Traceable Communications

A Message to the Community

Important Update from Pulaski County Schools

Kentucky Senate Bill 181 (2025)

June 26, 2025

Dear Students, Parents, Guardians, Staff, and Community Members,

With the recent passage of Senate Bill 181 (2025), we’ll all be adjusting to some new requirements. While change can be a bit uncomfortable at first, the goal of this legislation is one we can all support: keeping our students safe and ensuring clear, transparent communication between teachers and students. This new law sets specific guidelines for how communication should happen in our schools. We understand the importance of these changes and are committed to following both the letter and the spirit of the law. That said, it will mean making some shifts in how we normally operate.

We’ve put together a plan to help guide this transition, and we encourage you to take a look at it below. You’ll also find helpful resources on this website (www.pulaski.net/sb181) to answer any questions you might have.

Thank you for your continued support and understanding as we work through these changes together. We’re grateful to be part of a community that puts students first.

Patrick Richardson, Superintendent
Pulaski County Schools

New Law: Traceable Electronic Communications

Kentucky Senate Bill 181 (2025) goes into effect on June 27, 2025. This law applies to all students, parents/guardians, and school staff --  including all employees, coaches, and volunteers -- in Kentucky's public schools. It requires that all electronic communication between school staff and students be traceable by the school district.

Why This Matters

This law was created to protect students by ensuring that all digital communication with school staff is safe, appropriate, and transparent. It promotes accountability and helps prevent misuse of private messaging systems.

Approved Communication Systems

To comply with the law, only the following systems -- which are approved by, provided by, and connected to the district -- may be used for communication between staff and students:

• School Email

• Google Classroom

• ClassDojo

• ParentSquare (Remind)

• Messenger XR-E

Approved systems related to Dual Credit partners:

• Blackboard (Anthology)

• Starfish (EAB)

• Outlook Email (kctcs.edu domain)

Staff will use these systems for all messages, including, but not limited to:

• Homework and assignments

• School updates and reminders

• Encouragement and support

Not Allowed: Personal or Untraceable Systems

The following systems may not be used for communication between staff and students:

• Phone calls

• Text messages

• Facebook Messenger (except accounts that are directly connected to the district's business profile, such as schools, clubs, teams, etc.)

• Instagram

• X (Twitter)

• Any other unapproved or untraceable apps

Exceptions with Parental Consent

In special cases, communication through other systems may be allowed only if a parent/guardian provides written consent. A consent form will be available for families who wish to authorize this. This form should be kept on file in the student's school.

Helpful Resources

• www.pulaski.net/sb181 - On this webpage you can find answers to Frequently Asked Questions, a form to ask questions about the new law, instructions for connecting to ParentSquare (Remind), and more.